System and method for adjusting a discovery protocol in a wireless network

ABSTRACT

A first wireless device includes network discovery circuitry to initiate a discovery protocol to discover second wireless devices and to establish a wireless connection with at least one of the second wireless devices. Transmission circuitry transmits first discovery-related packets on a wireless channel and receiver circuitry receives second discovery-related packets from the second wireless devices on the wireless channel. The network discovery circuitry is further to determine, based on the second discovery-related packets, how many of the second wireless devices are within a predetermined range of the first wireless device, adjust a configurable parameter of the discovery protocol based on how many of the second wireless devices were determined to be within the predetermined range of the first wireless device, and complete the discovery protocol in accordance with the adjusted configurable parameter to establish the wireless connection with the at least one of the second wireless devices.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present disclosure is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 13/492,137 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,456,328), filed on Jun. 8, 2012,which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/494,613,filed on Jun. 8, 2011. The entire disclosures of the applicationsreferenced above are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to wireless networks, and moreparticularly to techniques for performing discovery of wireless devices.

BACKGROUND

The background description provided herein is for the purpose ofgenerally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of thepresently named inventors, to the extent it is described in thisbackground section, as well as aspects of the description that may nototherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neitherexpressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the presentdisclosure.

A wireless network generally refers to a network of devices that arelinked together through a wireless medium, and communicate over thewireless medium via a wireless distribution method—e.g., spread-spectrumor orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM). A wireless networktypically operates in accordance with processes specified in one or morestandards of wireless communication (also referred to herein as“wireless communication standards”). Different methods and standards ofwireless communication can generally be classified into the fourfollowing categories, identified in the headings below, based on aspecific application and/or transmission range.

Personal Area Network (PAN)

A Personal Area Network (PAN) is a computer network used for short rangecommunication among devices (including telephones and personal digitalassistants). The reach of a PAN is typically a few meters. PAN's can beused for communication among a particular group of devices themselves(intrapersonal communication), or for connecting to a higher levelnetwork and/or the Internet. Personal area networks may be wired withcomputer buses such as USB and FireWire. However, a wireless PersonalArea Network (WPAN) is typically made possible with wirelesscommunication standards such as Infrared and Bluetooth™.

In particular, the Infrared Data Association (IrDA) defines physicalspecifications communications protocol standards for the short rangeexchange of data over infrared light, for typical use in Personal AreaNetworks. Bluetooth is an industrial specification for wireless personalarea networks (PANS), also known as IEEE 802.15.1. Bluetooth provides away to connect and exchange information between devices such as personaldigital assistants (PDAs), mobile phones, laptops, PCs, printers,digital cameras and video game consoles via a secure, globallyunlicensed short-range radio frequency.

Local Area Network (LAN)

A wireless Local Area Network (wireless LAN or WLAN) generallycorresponds to the linking of two or more devices without using wires. AWLAN utilizes spread-spectrum or OFDM technology based on radio waves toenable communication between devices in a limited area, also known asthe basic service set (BSS). The IEEE 802.11 standard, also commonlyreferred to as the Wi-Fi standard, denotes a set of Wireless LAN/WLANstandards developed by working group 11 of the IEEE LAN/MAN StandardsCommittee (IEEE 802). The IEEE 802.11 standard supports two types (ormodes) of wireless LAN networks—i) infrastructure mode or ESS networks,and ii) ad-hoc mode or IBSS (independent BSS) network.

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

Wireless Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is the name trademarked by theIEEE 802.16 Working Group on Broadband Wireless Access Standards for itswireless metropolitan area network standard (commercially known asWiMAX), which defines broadband Internet access from fixed or mobiledevices via antennas. WiMAX is defined as Worldwide Interoperability forMicrowave Access by the WiMAX Forum, formed in June 2001 to promoteconformance and interoperability of the IEEE 802.16 standard, officiallyknown as WirelessMAN. In accordance with the WiMAX standard, subscriberstations can communicate with base-stations that are connected to a corenetwork.

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A Wide Area Network or WAN is a computer network covering a broadgeographical area—in contrast to personal area networks (PANS), localarea networks (LANs) or metropolitan area networks (MANS) which aretypically limited to a room, building or campus. The largest and mostwell-known example of a WAN is the Internet. In addition, WANs alsorefer to Mobile Data Communications, such as GSM (Global System forMobile Communications), GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), EDGE(Exchanged Data rates for GSM Evolution), 3G, HSDPA (High speed DownlinkPacket Access), and the like.

A wireless communication standard typically specifies one or moreprotocols or processes that enable a wireless device to discover anotherwireless device. Such protocols are commonly referred to as discoveryprotocols. For example, in accordance with a discovery protocolassociated with an infrastructure mode wireless LAN (or ESS network), anaccess point (AP) advertises its presence by transmitting short wirelessmessages (referred to as beacons) at a regular interval (e.g.,approximately every 100 mSec) on one of a number of radio frequencies(or channels) that may be available for communication. The beaconsinclude information about the capabilities of the access point and alsoserve as a timing reference for some of the protocol operations such aspower saving modes. The capabilities advertised in a beacon includeinformation corresponding to the network name or SSID, the supporteddata rates, and so on. Wireless devices can connect with an AP in an ESSnetwork either through performing an active scanning process or apassive scanning process. An active scanning process involves a wirelessdevice sending a probe request to the AP (and then eventually receivinga probe response); while in a passive scanning process, a wirelessdevice listens for beacons on one of a number of radio frequencies (orchannels) that may be available for communication. Once a wirelessdevice discovers the identity of an AP, the wireless device can thenproceed with authentication procedures as specified, e.g., in IEEE801.11 standard (which is incorporated herein by reference).

In accordance with a discovery protocol associated with an IBSS network,a first device can discover one or more second devices by firstinitially listening for a beacon from a second device. In response tothe first device not receiving any beacons, the first device typicallywaits for a random time (within a fixed range) prior to sending beacons.However, in response to the first device receiving a beacon from asecond device, the first device can then synchronize its timing with thesecond device, and the two devices may share the process of sendingbeacons according to an algorithm as defined in the IEEE 802.11standard.

In an area or location in which there may be a large number (e.g., 10 ormore) of wireless devices and/or users of wireless devices (e.g., anentertainment venue such as a sports stadium or a concert) a substantialportion of the communication over various wireless channels can comprisediscovery-related traffic—e.g., beacons, probe requests, proberesponses, and the like—which can reduce an overall bandwidth of thewireless channels in terms of data communications. Such a loss inoverall bandwidth can be attributed in part to conventional discoveryprotocols generally specifying processes (or steps) to be performed by awireless device (to discover another wireless device) irrespective of anumber of wireless devices that may be present within a given area orlocation.

SUMMARY

In general, in one aspect, the present specification describes a methodfor performing a discovery of one or more wireless devices. The methodincludes initiating, at a first wireless device, a discovery protocolhaving a configurable parameter, in which the discovery protocol isassociated with discovery of one or more second wireless devices. Themethod further includes determining a number of second wireless deviceswithin a predetermined range of the first wireless device, and adjustingthe configurable parameter of the discovery protocol based on the numberof second wireless devices determined to be within the predeterminedrange of the first wireless device. The method further includes, at thefirst wireless device, completing the discovery of one or more secondwireless devices in accordance with the configurable parameter of thediscovery protocol as adjusted based on the number of second wirelessdevices determined to be within the predetermined range of the firstwireless device.

In general, in another aspect, the present specification describes afirst wireless device including a network discovery service. The networkdiscovery service is configured to initiate a discovery protocol havinga configurable parameter, in which the discovery protocol is associatedwith discovery of one or more second wireless devices. The networkdiscovery service is further configured to determine a number of secondwireless devices within a predetermined range of the first wirelessdevice; adjust the configurable parameter of the discovery protocolbased on the number of second wireless devices determined to be withinthe predetermined range of the first wireless device; and complete thediscovery of one or more second wireless devices in accordance with theconfigurable parameter of the discovery protocol as adjusted based onthe number of second wireless devices determined to be within thepredetermined range of the first wireless device.

Potential advantages of one or more implementations disclosed herein mayinclude a potentially reduction in a total number or discovery-relatedtraffic over various wireless channels—e.g., by extending a beaconperiod (in an ESS network), or extending a (random) backoff time atwhich an initial beacon is to be transmitted (in an IBSS network)—incases in which there are a large number of wireless devices and/or usersof wireless devices in a given area. Additionally, wireless deviceswithin a given area may have a reduced power consumption due toadaptation, based on techniques described herein, of discovery protocolsassociated with the wireless devices.

The details of one or more implementations are set forth in theaccompanying drawings and the description below. Other features andadvantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and fromthe claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless network in accordance with oneimplementation.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method for performing a discovery of one or morewireless devices in accordance with one implementation.

FIG. 3 illustrates a wireless device in accordance with oneimplementation.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless network 100 including a first wirelessdevice 102 and a second wireless device 104 in accordance with oneimplementation. Though the wireless network 100 is shown as includingtwo wireless devices, the wireless network 100 can include any number ofwireless devices. In general, the wireless network 100 can correspond toany of the types of wireless networks discussed within theBackground—e.g., a personal area network, a wireless local area network,a metropolitan area network, a wide area network, and so on. And thefirst wireless device 102 and the second wireless device 104 can beconfigured to communicate in accordance with one or more wirelesscommunication standards discussed in connection with theBackground—e.g., the IEEE 802.11 standard, Bluetooth, infrared, GPRS,WiMAX, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA, and so on.

In order to establish a wireless connection with the second wirelessdevice 104, the first wireless device 102 includes a network discoveryservice 106 that performs a discovery protocol having a configurableparameter, wherein the configurable parameter is dependent (in oneimplementation) on a number of wireless devices within a predeterminedrange of the first wireless device 102. Unlike a conventional discoveryprotocol which generally specifies processes to be performed by awireless device irrespective of a number of wireless devices that may bepresent, the discovery protocol as disclosed herein can adapt to variousenvironments and therefore potentially reduce a total number ordiscovery-related traffic over various wireless channels—e.g., byextending a beacon period (in an ESS network), or extending a (random)backoff time at which an initial beacon is to be transmitted (in an IBSSnetwork)—in cases in which there are a large number of wireless devicesand/or users of wireless devices in a given area. In variousimplementations, the configurable parameter can correspond to one ormore of a power at which a device transmits discovery-related packets(e.g., beacons, probe requests, probe responses, public action frames),an interval at which a beacon is transmitted (beacon period), a (random)backoff time at which a beacon is to be transmitted (e.g., by adjustinga backoff algorithm based on a number of wireless devices within a givenarea), whether or not to send a probe request, whether or not to send aprobe response, and whether or not to send a beacon at all.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method 200 for performing a discovery of one ormore wireless devices in accordance with one implementation. At a firstwireless device (e.g., first wireless device 102), a discovery protocol,having a configurable parameter, for discovery of one or more secondwireless devices is initiated by a network discovery service (e.g., bynetwork discovery service 106) (step 202). The discovery protocol can beassociated with one or more different wireless communicationstandards—including for example, the IEEE 802.11 standard, Bluetooth,infrared, GPRS, WiMAX, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA, and so on. In variousimplementations, the configurable parameter can correspond to one ormore of i) a power at which a device transmits discovery-related packets(e.g., beacons, probe requests, probe responses, public action frames),ii) an interval at which a beacon is transmitted (beacon period), iii) a(random) backoff time at which a beacon is to be transmitted (e.g., byadjusting a backoff algorithm based on a number of wireless deviceswithin a given area), iv) whether or not to send a probe request, v)whether or not to send a probe response, and vi) whether or not to senda beacon at all.

A number of second wireless devices within a predetermined range of thefirst wireless device is determined by the network discovery service(step 204). In one implementation, the number of second wireless deviceswithin a predetermined range of the first wireless device is directlydetermined by network discovery service. In such an implementation, thefirst wireless device can directly listen to one or more wirelesschannels to determine how many second wireless devices may be within apredetermined range of the first wireless device. For example, in anIBSS network, the first wireless device can listen to discovery-relatedtraffic—e.g., beacons, probe requests, and/or probe responses—andcapture various unique MAC addresses corresponding to the differingsecond wireless devices that may be surrounding the first wirelessdevice.

In another implementation, the network discovery service indirectlydetermines a number of second wireless devices that may be surroundingthe first wireless device—for example, based on a location of the firstwireless device and/or time of day. In such an implementation, thenetwork discovery service can indirectly determine that there may be alarge number of second wireless devices surrounding the first wirelessdevice should a location device (e.g., a GPS system or other geolocationdevice associated with the first wireless device) indicate that alocation of the first wireless device corresponds to a sports stadium,and the time of day corresponds to a time that a sporting event is totake place at the sports stadium.

In one implementation, the number of second wireless devices within thepredetermined range of the first wireless device corresponds to onlythose wireless devices that communicate in accordance with one or morespecific wireless communication standards (e.g., the Wi-Fi standard),and excludes wireless devices that do not communication in accordancewith the one or more specific wireless communication standards (e.g., acellular standard). In another implementation, the number of secondwireless devices within the predetermined range corresponds to allwireless devices that communicate in accordance with a wirelesscommunication standard with which the first wireless device is capableof communicating in—e.g., if the first wireless device comprises an LTEtransceiver, a Bluetooth transceiver, and a Wi-Fi transceiver, then thenumber of second wireless devices within the predetermined rangecorresponds to all wireless devices surrounding the first wirelessdevice that are capable of communicating in accordance with the LTEcellular standard, the Bluetooth standard, and the Wi-Fi standard.

The configurable parameter of the discovery protocol is adjusted (e.g.,by the network discovery service) based on the number of second wirelessdevices within the predetermined range of the first wireless device(step 206). In various implementations, the configurable parameter cancorrespond to one or more of a power at which a device transmitsdiscovery-related packets (e.g., beacons, probe requests, proberesponses, public action frames), an interval at which a beacon istransmitted (beacon period), a (random) backoff time at which a beaconis to be transmitted (e.g., by adjusting a backoff algorithm based on anumber of wireless devices within a given area), whether or not to senda probe request, whether or not to send a probe response, and whether ornot to send a beacon at all. Alternatively, in one implementation, inlieu of or in combination with adjusting the configurable parameter ofthe discovery protocol based on the number of second wireless deviceswithin the predetermined range of the first wireless device, theconfigurable parameter of the discovery protocol can be adjust based ona location of the first wireless device. In such an implementation, theconfigurable parameter can be automatically adjusted, solely or in part,on a location of the first wireless device as determined by a locationdevice.

The discovery of one or more second wireless devices is completed at thefirst wireless device—e.g., by the network discovery service—inaccordance with the adjusted configurable parameter of the discoveryprotocol (step 208). For example, in an IBSS network, in a case in whicha large number of second wireless devices surrounding the first wirelessdevice, the backoff algorithm of the first wireless device may beadjusted to delay a time at which the first wireless device sends abeacon. As another example, in an ESS (or BSS) network, a beacon periodof an access point can be extended in a circumstance in which the accesspoint is surrounded by a large number of other access points and/orother wireless devices. Additionally, the first wireless device mayreduce the power at which the first wireless device transmitsdiscovery-related packets in response to the first wireless device beingsurrounded by a large number of second wireless devices.

FIG. 3 illustrates one implementation of a wireless device 300. Thewireless device 300 can correspond to one or both of the first wirelessdevice 102 and the second wireless device 104 of FIG. 1. As shown inFIG. 3, the wireless device 300 includes receiver circuitry 302, anetwork discovery service 304, a configurable parameter 306,transmission circuitry 308, and a memory 310. The wireless device 300can further include one or more processors (not shown), which (in oneimplementation) executed instructions associated with the networkdiscovery service 304. In one implementation, the receiver circuitry 300is configured to listen to receive discovery-related traffic (e.g.,beacons, probe responses, probe requests, public action frames, and thelike). The network discovery service 304 adjusts the configurableparameter 306 (e.g., as discussed in the examples above) based on thediscovery-related traffic received by the receiver circuitry 302. Thetransmission circuitry 308 is configured to transmit discovery-relatedtraffic (e.g., beacons, probe responses, probe requests, public actionframes, and the like) in accordance with the configurable parameter 306,as adjusted by the network discovery service 304.

One or more of method steps described above can be performed by one ormore programmable processors executing a computer program to performfunctions by operating on input data and generating output. Generally,various implementations can take the form of an entirely hardwareembodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment containingboth hardware and software elements. In one implementation, variousaspects are implemented in software, which includes but is not limitedto firmware, resident software, microcode, etc. Furthermore, variousimplementations can take the form of a computer program productaccessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable medium providingprogram code for use by or in connection with a computer or anyinstruction execution system. For the purposes of this description, acomputer-usable or computer readable medium can be any apparatus thatcan contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program foruse by or in connection with the instruction execution system,apparatus, or device. The medium can be an electronic, magnetic,optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system (orapparatus or device) or a propagation medium. Examples of acomputer-readable medium include a semiconductor or solid state memory,magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a random access memory(RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk and an opticaldisk. Current examples of optical disks include compact disk-read onlymemory (CD-ROM), compact disk-read/write (CD-R/W) and DVD.

Various implementations for performing discovery of wireless deviceshave been described. Nevertheless, various modifications may be made tothe implementations. For example, though the techniques described aboverefer to wireless communication standards, the techniques may beapplicable to wired communication standards. In addition, steps of themethods described above can be performed in a different order and stillachieve desirable results. Accordingly, many modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A first wireless device, comprising: networkdiscovery circuitry to initiate a discovery protocol, wherein thediscovery protocol corresponds to a process performed to discover secondwireless devices and to establish a wireless connection with at leastone of the second wireless devices, and wherein the discovery protocolincludes at least one configurable parameter; transmission circuitry totransmit first discovery-related packets on at least one wirelesschannel; and receiver circuitry to receive second discovery-relatedpackets from the second wireless devices on the at least one wirelesschannel, wherein the network discovery circuitry is further todetermine, based on the second discovery-related packets received on theat least one wireless channel, how many of the second wireless devicesare within a predetermined range of the first wireless device, adjustthe configurable parameter of the discovery protocol based on how manyof the second wireless devices were determined to be within thepredetermined range of the first wireless device, and complete thediscovery protocol in accordance with the adjusted configurableparameter to establish the wireless connection with the at least one ofthe second wireless devices.
 2. The first wireless device of claim 1,wherein the first discovery-related packets include at least one ofbeacons, probe requests, probe responses, and public action frames. 3.The first wireless device of claim 1, wherein, to determine how many ofthe second wireless devices are within the predetermined range of thefirst wireless device, the network discovery circuitry is further todetermine a number of unique media access controller addressesassociated with the second discovery-related packets received from thesecond wireless devices.
 4. The first wireless device of claim 1,wherein, to determine how many of the second wireless devices are withinthe predetermined range of the first wireless device, the networkdiscovery circuitry is further to determine at least one of a locationof the first wireless device and a time of day.
 5. The first wirelessdevice of claim 1, wherein, to determine how many of the second wirelessdevices are within the predetermined range of the first wireless device,the network discovery circuitry is further to determine a number of thesecond wireless devices that communicate with a predetermined wirelesscommunication standard.
 6. The first wireless device of claim 5, whereinthe wireless communication standard corresponds to at least one of anInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11standard, a Bluetooth standard, an infrared standard, a general packetradio service (GPRS) standard, a WiMAX standard, an enhanced data globalsystem for mobile communications (GSM) environment (EDGE) standard, acellular standard, and a high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA)standard.
 7. The first wireless device of claim 1, wherein theconfigurable parameter of the discovery protocol that is adjustedincludes at least one of a power at which the first wireless devicetransmits the first discovery-related packets, a beacon period, abackoff time at which a beacon is to be transmitted by the firstwireless device, whether or not the first wireless device is to send aprobe request, whether or not the first wireless device is to send aprobe response, and whether or not the first wireless device is to senda beacon at all.
 8. The first wireless device of claim 7, wherein, toadjust the configurable parameter, the network discovery circuitry isfurther to at least one of extend the beacon period, extend the backofftime, and reduce the power at which the first wireless device transmitsthe first discovery-related packets.
 9. A method of operating firstwireless device in a wireless network, the method comprising: initiatinga discovery protocol, wherein the discovery protocol corresponds to aprocess performed to discover second wireless devices and to establish awireless connection with at least one of the second wireless devices,and wherein the discovery protocol includes at least one configurableparameter; transmitting first discovery-related packets on at least onewireless channel; and receiving second discovery-related packets fromthe second wireless devices on the at least one wireless channel,determining, based on the second discovery-related packets received onthe at least one wireless channel, how many of the second wirelessdevices are within a predetermined range of the first wireless device,adjusting the configurable parameter of the discovery protocol based onhow many of the second wireless devices were determined to be within thepredetermined range of the first wireless device, and completing thediscovery protocol in accordance with the adjusted configurableparameter to establish the wireless connection with the at least one ofthe second wireless devices.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein thefirst discovery-related packets include at least one of beacons, proberequests, probe responses, and public action frames.
 11. The method ofclaim 9, wherein determining how many of the second wireless devices arewithin the predetermined range of the first wireless device includesdetermining a number of unique media access controller addressesassociated with the second discovery-related packets received from thesecond wireless devices.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein determininghow many of the second wireless devices are within the predeterminedrange of the first wireless device includes determining at least one ofa location of the first wireless device and a time of day.
 13. Themethod of claim 9, wherein determining how many of the second wirelessdevices are within the predetermined range of the first wireless deviceincludes determining a number of the second wireless devices thatcommunicate with a predetermined wireless communication standard. 14.The method of claim 13, wherein the wireless communication standardcorresponds to at least one of an Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard, a Bluetooth standard, aninfrared standard, a general packet radio service (GPRS) standard, aWiMAX standard, an enhanced data global system for mobile communications(GSM) environment (EDGE) standard, a cellular standard, and a high speeddownlink packet access (HSDPA) standard.
 15. The method of claim 9,wherein adjusting the configurable parameter of the discovery protocolincludes adjusting at least one of a power at which the first wirelessdevice transmits the first discovery-related packets, a beacon period, abackoff time at which a beacon is to be transmitted by the firstwireless device, whether or not the first wireless device is to send aprobe request, whether or not the first wireless device is to send aprobe response, and whether or not the first wireless device is to senda beacon at all.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein adjusting theconfigurable parameter includes at least one of extending the beaconperiod, extending the backoff time, and reducing the power at which thefirst wireless device transmits the first discovery-related packets.